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- Nov 3, 2010
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I feel as if I'm literally the average applicant. I will be applying this June.
Korean male senior at four-year public university.
Neurobiology and Psychology double major.
cGPA: 3.64. Pretty much averaged this throughout my whole college years. Unfortunately, no trend as a lot of my grades are "roller coaster-ish" (ie. 3.9 in one class, 3.2 in another). However, averaging over 3.8 this school year.
sGPA: 3.55. Same as above ...
MCAT: 34R
//EDIT: GPAs could possibly be cGPA of 3.72 and sGPA of 3.66 if I'm understanding the AMCAS classification correctly.
Volunteering
Childlife Playroom Volunteer - 3 hrs/week since Nov. 2011. Pretty much hang out with patients at my local children's hospital, whether in the playroom or in their rooms. Truly one of the most enjoyable and enlightening experiences I have participated in.
Feeding the homeless - ~4 hrs/once a month from junior year in high school until end of sophomore in college. Help hand out food with my church a local community shelter.
I have also helped out at my church a lot, with being a counselor and helper at retreats and such, but I don't know if I should put it in or not. Don't really have a set number of hours either. Could help fill leadership criteria though, I guess?
Employment
Event Services Assistant - ~10 hrs/week. Part of event services staff at my school's student union building.
Church summer school helper - ~20 hrs/week for 8 weeks. Helped out at my church during it's summer school program, where kids learned various stuff such as art, English, etc. and chaperoned at field trips. Wasn't really a job, as I only got paid $400 (under the tables essentially) so don't know if I should list as job or volunteer.
Research
Student Research Assistant - ~20 hrs/week since March 2011 in the Department of Neurosurgery. Worked full time summer of 2011, as well as part of summer 2012. Being hired for full time after graduation as well. Specialize in confocal microscopy and currently learning MCAO survival surgery. No publications as of now; however, possibly 2-3 set to be submitted by summer (hopefully 2nd or 3rd author).
Also from this position, I have gotten a research scholarship at my school twice and will have two poster presentations at my school's symposium by the time I graduate.
Physio Assistant - 9 hrs/week for one year in the Department of Psychology. Helped analyze physiological data of children in on-going psych study at my school.
Shadowing
Pediatric Neurosurgeon - 30 hours. Chief of Neurosurgery at children's hospital.
Pediatric Urologist - 30 hours.
Orthopedic Surgeon (Oncology specialist) - 20 hours.
Plastic Surgeon - 30 hours.
Pediatrician - 25 hours.
These are the rough times. Made the stupid mistake of not writing down my hours but these hours should all be essentially correct. Also, hopefully shadowing a neurologist and possibly another primary care physician.
Letters of Recommendations
Should have four strong letters. 2 from my neurobio professors and 1 from my psych professor and 1 from my PI. The PI letter should be very strong.
Trying to get in contact with an MD to write me a letter but we'll have to see about that.
Schools
Albany
Albert Einstein
Boston University
Case Western
Rosalind Frankin
Columbia University
Emory
George Washington
Georgetown
Mount Sinai (Icahn)
Jefferson
Johns Hopkins
Keck (USC)
Loyola (Stritch)
New York Medical
NYU
Northwestern
Oregon Health & Science Univ.
Rush
Stanford
Temple
Tufts
UCLA
UCSF
Chicago (Prtizker)
Illinois
Michigan
Rochester
Texas (Southwestern)
Virginia
Univ. of Washington (In-state)
Cornell (Weill)
32 schools. I should qualify for FAP, which will give me 14 free primaries. I will most likely shrink my list, as I do have a lot of top schools. A lot of higher up schools that I've put are because I have a huge interest in neurosurgery and those schools (ie, Columbia/Hopkins/Cornell/etc) are known for their neurosurgery programs. Hopefully, my research experience can get them to at least look at my application. Some schools that much my stats I haven't put in (ie, Creighton/etc) since I really do not want to live in those cities ...
Any other schools that are recommended or schools that I should definitely take out?
----------------------------------
I know it's a lot of text! Please give me recommendations and other advice to help me get prepared for the upcoming cycle! Thanks!
Korean male senior at four-year public university.
Neurobiology and Psychology double major.
cGPA: 3.64. Pretty much averaged this throughout my whole college years. Unfortunately, no trend as a lot of my grades are "roller coaster-ish" (ie. 3.9 in one class, 3.2 in another). However, averaging over 3.8 this school year.
sGPA: 3.55. Same as above ...
MCAT: 34R
//EDIT: GPAs could possibly be cGPA of 3.72 and sGPA of 3.66 if I'm understanding the AMCAS classification correctly.
Volunteering
Childlife Playroom Volunteer - 3 hrs/week since Nov. 2011. Pretty much hang out with patients at my local children's hospital, whether in the playroom or in their rooms. Truly one of the most enjoyable and enlightening experiences I have participated in.
Feeding the homeless - ~4 hrs/once a month from junior year in high school until end of sophomore in college. Help hand out food with my church a local community shelter.
I have also helped out at my church a lot, with being a counselor and helper at retreats and such, but I don't know if I should put it in or not. Don't really have a set number of hours either. Could help fill leadership criteria though, I guess?
Employment
Event Services Assistant - ~10 hrs/week. Part of event services staff at my school's student union building.
Church summer school helper - ~20 hrs/week for 8 weeks. Helped out at my church during it's summer school program, where kids learned various stuff such as art, English, etc. and chaperoned at field trips. Wasn't really a job, as I only got paid $400 (under the tables essentially) so don't know if I should list as job or volunteer.
Research
Student Research Assistant - ~20 hrs/week since March 2011 in the Department of Neurosurgery. Worked full time summer of 2011, as well as part of summer 2012. Being hired for full time after graduation as well. Specialize in confocal microscopy and currently learning MCAO survival surgery. No publications as of now; however, possibly 2-3 set to be submitted by summer (hopefully 2nd or 3rd author).
Also from this position, I have gotten a research scholarship at my school twice and will have two poster presentations at my school's symposium by the time I graduate.
Physio Assistant - 9 hrs/week for one year in the Department of Psychology. Helped analyze physiological data of children in on-going psych study at my school.
Shadowing
Pediatric Neurosurgeon - 30 hours. Chief of Neurosurgery at children's hospital.
Pediatric Urologist - 30 hours.
Orthopedic Surgeon (Oncology specialist) - 20 hours.
Plastic Surgeon - 30 hours.
Pediatrician - 25 hours.
These are the rough times. Made the stupid mistake of not writing down my hours but these hours should all be essentially correct. Also, hopefully shadowing a neurologist and possibly another primary care physician.
Letters of Recommendations
Should have four strong letters. 2 from my neurobio professors and 1 from my psych professor and 1 from my PI. The PI letter should be very strong.
Trying to get in contact with an MD to write me a letter but we'll have to see about that.
Schools
Albany
Albert Einstein
Boston University
Case Western
Rosalind Frankin
Columbia University
Emory
George Washington
Georgetown
Mount Sinai (Icahn)
Jefferson
Johns Hopkins
Keck (USC)
Loyola (Stritch)
New York Medical
NYU
Northwestern
Oregon Health & Science Univ.
Rush
Stanford
Temple
Tufts
UCLA
UCSF
Chicago (Prtizker)
Illinois
Michigan
Rochester
Texas (Southwestern)
Virginia
Univ. of Washington (In-state)
Cornell (Weill)
32 schools. I should qualify for FAP, which will give me 14 free primaries. I will most likely shrink my list, as I do have a lot of top schools. A lot of higher up schools that I've put are because I have a huge interest in neurosurgery and those schools (ie, Columbia/Hopkins/Cornell/etc) are known for their neurosurgery programs. Hopefully, my research experience can get them to at least look at my application. Some schools that much my stats I haven't put in (ie, Creighton/etc) since I really do not want to live in those cities ...
Any other schools that are recommended or schools that I should definitely take out?
----------------------------------
I know it's a lot of text! Please give me recommendations and other advice to help me get prepared for the upcoming cycle! Thanks!
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